Blogs

I've just started using Google Reader. It's an incredible way to keep up with a bunch of blogs at once.

A couple weeks ago, I realized how much time I spent checking blogs. So, I decided to stop following all these blogs, just read a couple in Google Reader, and save a lot of time. That couple has expanded to a couple dozen, and I'm still spending way less time than I was before.

Below is my current top 8, somewhat in order of my emotional affinity for them.

These bloggers do have something to say.

• The Art of Manliness, reviving the lost art of manliness
• Altucher Confidential, crazy and unique ideas for business and life -- some even make sense
• Donald Miller's Blog, author of Blue Like Jazz -- I just discovered this and really like some things he has to say
• Get Rich Slowly, practical and solid financial thoughts
• stonesoup, excellent minimalist recipes
• The Art of Non-Conformity, why be like everyone else?
• xkcd.com, best. comics. ever. Some are odd, but there's a lot of really good ones.
• Greg Mankiw's blog, Harvard professor; economist; blog with the most depth and fewest words

Readers, I'm interested in some other good, Christian blogging perspectives. There's just one on my list. That shouldn't be the case. What do you like?

Christmas Letter 2011

This year's Christmas letter has come out. It's even better than last year's.

Since it includes personal information, you have to know me to get it.

If you haven't gotten it yet, my apologies. Give me your e-mail address, and we will fix the situation.

Prizes and more!

Best article I've read this month

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/25956-11-things-to-know-at-25ish

Check it out.

Now read my contribution, fancy schmancy number 12.

12. Continue expanding your horizons. So many times since leaving college, I've had a choice to make, between going about life the way I'm used to and comfortable with, or taking a risk and trying something new. Make a list of 50 new things to do and try a new one each week for a year. Try biking to work for a week. Visit an art gallery. Put on the tourist hat and go sightseeing in your own city. Check out the local toastmasters club. Some things you try won't have much effect. Some will rock your world. As a similar challenge, have lunch/coffee with a new person each week for a year. Ask your friends who you should meet, and meet them. You can say you have this challenge, it will be a good excuse to ask for names and contact info. Most people are willing to meet someone new. Especially if they know you aren't selling anything or going to be a needy-clingy personality. Just meet them for an hour.

What do you think? What's your item 13? What's something new you did, or a person you met which rocked your world?

Christmas gifts to charities

Conceptually, donating to a charity in someone's name has a lot going for it. Our country is centered around stuff. A popular question every year is: "What to get the person who has everything?" Many charities can do a lot with a little. And if someone wants to give an audiobible to a random Indian as their Christmas gift to me, go for it. See my latest Facebook re-share.

Here's my struggle with the idea. I got one of those gifts once. And try as I might to be thankful and see that the money is going for a good cause, I didn't feel much but disappointment. Here's why:

• It was one of the giver's favorite charities, but one I wasn't familiar with and/or excited about. I'm not saying at all that what they are doing wasn't good. I just didn't have any prior emotional connection with that specific work.
• The gift was the first gift from a particular individual, one who I cared deeply about. If this individual had given me a book I had already read, I would have re-read it. Or an ugly piece of art, I would have found a way to display it so it looks great.
• I felt invalidated, that now that I have attained a certain material status, that I lose the privilege of receiving.

Through all of this, there seems to be a confusion between giving and materialism. Christmas giving does have the unfortunate consequence of us having even more things that we don't really need, maybe even want. But let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, people. Accumulation of stuff isn't the purpose of giving. The purpose of giving is providing a tangible way to show that you care about someone. If I give an extra $X to my favorite charity in your name, does that show that I care about you? Not really.

Can charity gifts for Christmas still work? Sure it can. Though, like any good giving, it will take some work. First, find out if the recipient is interested in receiving such a gift. Find what charity s/he is excited about. These can be done at any time during the year.

Perhaps even if they assented to the gift, and it is to a charity they are excited about, they have a small twinge of disappointment. Maybe that's a good thing, to get rid of selfishness. Particularly for those you are close to, I highly recommend that you give a small gift in addition to the charity gift. It could be something as simple as a couple hours service of something you are better at than they. Some token that tells them that, while this cause is important, you are also important. Yes, if we were perfect we wouldn't need that token gift. But that's not the world we live in.

What do you readers think? Have you received a charity-gift? How did it make you feel?

Technology for pastors

The mission field in India is quickly spreading. Pastors are being trained as quickly as possible. The rural growth is taking on. These are exciting times to be in missions in India.

James has a vision of equipping the seminary students with technology skills. There's so much they can use technology for, whether it's getting directions with a smartphone, writing a paper in Word, studying for a sermon with e-Sword, publishing sermons on youtube.

My main work assignment while here has been to develop training material, then present that material. The session went well, and there's more to come. James is working on some more modules, and there are many more Bible schools where this information can be presented.

Talking about the internet




Hands-on demonstration of OpenOffice

This post is Rated R

But you can't put a Rated R post in the same blog that you talk about missions. Sorry. I. Just. Did.

You all know what that means. Anyone under 17 isn't allowed to read this without your parent there. Sorry, kids.

Yesterday, there wasn't any school in India for an official holiday - Children's Day. Yes, you heard that right. You've had the conversation before. Usually somewhere around the 2nd Sunday in May or the 3rd Sunday in June. Youngster wonders when is Kid's Day. Parent's response is, "Every day is Kid's Day." Except it isn't. Because Children's Day is November 14th.

Now kids, don't get 2 excited. The next Children's Day is not for another 365 days (yes, 2012 is a leap year). If you remember all this 365 days from now and inform your parents, they will ask you how you know that. You will show them my blog. And rather than getting a new Playstation, you'll get grounded for reading R-Rated content.

If you are reading this as a parent, you should be happy after reading that paragraph. If you are a kid, you should be happy, since now you know there's a kid's day. If you don't have kids, you should be happy because you can enjoy the laugh without the drama of getting more presents. Everyone is happy. Mission accomplished!

One thing I'm looking for in a woman

Listen up, ladies. I don't give many tips like this, so pay attention.

This trip has afforded opportunities to look through photo albums. We looked at James's wedding pictures from the last trip. (It still baffles me that Nathaniel and I were in the family photo, having known the family for less than a day.) Older pictures we looked at as well. One observation struck me. Throughout the photos, Priya Auntie* looks more beautiful with each passing year.

While we give too much credence to appearances, sometimes appearances reveal inner truth. That's what was going on here. And it can be summed up in 2 words: aging well.

What does that mean? How do you do it? I'm not here to give a formula. And I know that difficulties in life happen over time to everyone. Here's what I do know. When you wake up before everyone else, spend an hour a day exercising, participate in morning and evening family devotions, morning and evening ministry devotions, morning and evening personal devotions, eat healthy, give of yourself to others, show gratitude, maintain a positive attitude, and do that every day, day after day, month after month, year after year, all not for personal accolades but for the praise of God, well, good things happen. Difficulties don't magically go away. But good things happen. Those good things start small, and start internally. But slowly and surely, the good things start getting bigger and blessing the lives of those around you. And one day you wake up and realize God has given you a more incredible life than you ever imagined it.